Many have heard about the prophecies of 2012, knowing that this date somehow means that the world will end. I believe this is truly a misinterpretation of the 2012 prophecy. These center around the Mayan calendar, which ends on December 21, 2012.

The Mayan civilization is thought to have been born in the Yucatan Peninsula in about 2600 B.C. and thrived through approximately A.D. 1300. They excelled brilliantly in astronomy, hieroglyphic writing, science, mathematics, art, farming, weaving, architecture, and also in creating highly technical, intricate calendar systems, to name only a handful of their gifts.

Almost as fascinating as the Mayan civilization itself is the mysterious abruptness with which it vanished. It was as if a complex, sophisticated society of fifteen million people simply walked away from their lives one day and never came back, leaving nothing but deserted cities and abandoned architectural masterpieces in their wake. To this day, there are no definitive answers but many theories about what happened so suddenly and with such finality. Again, the only thing about the vanishing of the Maya that experts seem to agree is that no one knows with any certainty what really happened to those fifteen million people around A.D. 1300. And, because the Spanish conquistadors made it their practice to kill the Mayan priests and nobility and to burn Mayan books and records when they invaded Central and South America, it’s likely that no one ever will.

What has survived after all these centuries is the fascinating and very complicated Mayan calendar, which consisted of cycles of 260 days, each day having one of twenty names represented by its own symbol. The days of the Mayan calendar were numbered one through thirteen, but since there are twenty names, after a thirteen-day period was finished, the next day was numbered “one” again. The calendar also kept track of a solar year in which the months were named, and following the eighteen months of their solar year, they included a five-day month in which the days were thought to be unlucky and, as a result, were not given names.

I won’t pretend to be able to decipher the intricacies of the Mayan calendar. Instead, I’ll focus on an element that everyone can decipher: it ends on December 21, 2012, which has been a source of concern for those who are aware of it and are determined to find specific “doomsday” predictions to be fearful of. But the Mayan culture never intended to imply that a cataclysmic end of the world would be happening on 12/21/12, or the winter solstice of 2012. Their prophecy is that on that date, the world will be making a transition from one age into another, and it is humankind’s choice whether that transition will involve violently dramatic changes or will simply evolve with graceful, peaceful tranquility.

The prophecy of the Mayan calendar is that our solar system was slowly ending its fifth cycle, its "darkest before the dawn," in 1987, moving toward the morning of the first cycle that will officially arrive in 2012. And how we use the brief years between now and then will determine whether the impending birth of the "morning" is destructive or productive. Negativity, violence, greed, cruelty, the lust for power, and the systematic desecration of nature and its sacred inhabitants will guarantee a catastrophic transition from the fifth cycle back to the first, while a global nurturing of kindness, respect, unity, charity, and a celebration of the sanctity of our natural planet and all its living creatures can, by our choice, create a cyclical transition into a truly golden age. So 2012, the Maya promise, will mark a profound change among us on Earth. What kind of change is entirely up to us.

This important 2012 date also appears in the Cherokee prophecies. The Pleiades star system is also prominent in one of the most treasured and famous Cherokee prophecies, the Prophecy of the Rattlesnake, a sign in the heavens that is evolving toward the end of the Cherokee calendar in the year 2012. It is no coincidence that the Cherokee and Mayan calendars end in the same year. It’s simply the result of the northern migration of the Mayans and the Aztecs from Central and South America to settle in the United States. But the heart of the Prophecy of the Rattlesnake is rooted in the wisdom and teachings of the ancient Cherokee elders.

Just as all cultures interpret the stars and their movement into zodiac systems and prophecies, the Cherokee see a zodiac of their own, ancient and cherished, the story of eternity, or Time Untime, written across the face of the universe. The universe itself is made of crystal, and four rawhide ropes hang from it to suspend the great island known as Earth. While the outline of the heavens retains its shape in the sky, there is movement within the Cherokee zodiac that makes it seem alive, breathing and transforming itself to foretell the fate of Earth against the backdrop of the eternal cycle of life.

There are thirteen constellations in the Cherokee zodiac, most of them designs of animals. And prominent among them is the Constellation Rattlesnake, in which a prophecy is written. The Rattlesnake has a head, and the tip of its tail is the revered Pleiades system. Between the head and the tail is a body that twists and slithers in a kind of side winding movement. There are fifty-two scales on its mouth, the number fifty-two being an essential part of the very sophisticated Cherokee calendar. The outline of the Rattlesnake remains stationary, but various forms and shapes that appear and disappear on the snake itself are read as signs of the past, present, and future of the universe.

In the years 2004 through 2012, a phenomenon is foreseen in the heavens in which feathers will appear on the head of the Rattlesnake. Its glowing eyes will open. It will grow wings, hands, and arms, and its hands will hold a bowl of blood. The seven rattles of its tail will resemble the roots of a tree,” the Pleiades Tree of the Beginning.” This will correspond to the transit of Venus, a very rare alignment of Earth, Venus, and the sun in which is appears from Earth as if Venus is crossing the face of the sun. A Venus transit occurred on June 8, 2004, and astronomers predict it will happen again on June 5-6, 2012. The Cherokee calendar also says that the world will come to an end in 2012, just as the Mayans do. To the Cherokee, “the end” in 2012 signifies that all will be reborn.

Both the Mayans and the Cherokee offer us rich prophecy for the coming 2012 year. This promises to be a time of rebirth and renewal. A new year that offers us the choice for many great changes.

Sylvia Browne is without question, "America's #1 Psychic," an internationally known psychic and medium.

Comments

By maritza, Friday, April 23, 2010 11:17:29 AM
I believe exactly what Sylvia is saying. 2012 is a misinterpretation of "the end". Right now look at our society, selfish... ungreatful... judgemental and very shallow. We need to "die" to these behaviors and be reborn into a new conscious way of living. We make the choices to advance to an new dimention and I believe 12/21/2012 is that day. Our consciousness is in route to advancement...only if we choose. We can continue with the old world thinking or contribute to the development of our species. To this day we only use a small percentage of our brain and we've been in existance for how many years?!? We need to be more intune with mother nature and the species that we share this earth, love them and respect them. We need to treat each other with the same love and respect as well. And all of this starts from within. Find you're inner peace and be that reflection to the world. We shouldn't have to create a disaster for us to come together. So thank you Sylvia Brown for you're gentle message on everyone's concern for the great event. Im EXSTATIC about the 2012 change! Because I know it will be a positive one, and I know when I am 80 years old I will look back and be proud to say I am from mother earth!

By Ray, Saturday, September 05, 2009 11:20:31 AM
I know, I know, don't bring up politics on a board for spiritual discussion... But you've got to admit that Obama has hoodwinked a plethora of people with his false promises and is slowly attempting to turn the US into a socialistic nation. How about his very scary health care plan? Anybody with an ounce of common sense knows how devastating this would be especially to the elderly. More and more government control. And tax, tax, tax to make up for Obama's mass spending. Any of you here pro-lifers? Obama is a major proponent for abortion and late term abortions. He signed in a policy that allows pregnant woman in Mexico to have abortions funded by US tax dollars! Most catholics and other members of christian faiths were unaware of Obama's stance on abortion and his association with terrorists, (William Ayers). We should be worried. Contrary to what some people think Obama is an atheist. He was raised solely by his mother who was a militant atheist. When Obama spoke at Georgetown University he refused to speak there unless a statue of Jesus was covered up and a plaque with a biblical quote was covered up. Hmmm....... Obama's long time pal and mentor William Ayers, a terrorist, belonging to the Weatherman's Underground, who planted bombs in the Pentagon back in the early 1970's, and was angered that the detonated explosives didn't do more destruction! Ayer's even wrote a book praising Sirhan Sirhan for murdering Robert Kennedy and Ayers' wife even praised Charles Mansons' cult members for the murder of Sharron Tate. Ayers and his wife are evil. How about Obama's association with the infamous, America hating, Rev. Wright?! And the list goes on. I heard Sylvia Browne saying that she "thanks God" for Barac Obama! Why, Sylvia? Sylvia's obviously a devout believer in God isn't she? Then why would she be so thankful for an atheist and socialist as president of The United States? And don't tell me that Obama's a muslim! Ok, so his estranged father had him "canonized" a muslim in Kenya. Sorry, but Obama is an atheist. I can't believe Sylvia Browne would be thankful to God to have a socialist and atheist as a president? I know, and I'm NO psychic, just using my common sense, that the next 3 1/2 years ahead of us are going to be very, very turbulent ones. And I'm so sick of the same old inane line about Obama "inheriting" a bad economy form Bush. Please don't blame Bush. Fact is, Obama has spent more tax dollars in just 7 months than any president in history! Obamas approval is the lowest of ANY president in such a short time in office. Unemployment is reaching proportions back to the Carter era. At least Jimmy Carter loved his country and wasn't an atheist! But he crippled our economy. Yes, we need to be worried; very worried. And please don't think that I'm some far right, evangelical, whack job, good ol' boy. I very much the opposite. I'm a moderate that loves his country and values tradition and our freedom. I'm terribly worried about the over all health of our nation, now that we have a radical socialist in power. God help us all.

By Stephanie, Sunday, April 26, 2009 09:45:47 AM
At least we can cross over to the other side faster rather than dieing a slow death. this is whats best for us. And I'm prepared.

By Brenda, Sunday, October 19, 2008 07:53:38 AM
I've always believed that the world wasn't going to burn up or fall from the universe, I've told my children over and over that the world was going to change the way that we know it, and hopefully for the better.

By rebecca, Saturday, October 18, 2008 01:51:03 AM
believe in jesus and god turn to him and thou shall be saved repent

By Melba, Sunday, October 12, 2008 03:55:45 PM
We are the power of this universe, we have to think and place positive subconcious mind, let's get together and discard all negativity starting from this nation where, there is to much negative elements, beginning from our leaders, we most talk to our God that help us discard all these negativity.

By Philomena, Saturday, October 11, 2008 01:02:11 PM
Negative things are happening in our world every day that seem to be out of our control which can cause negative emotional and stressful feelings in our hearts, (that causes a negative chain reaction) but to change that, believe in a positive feeling in your heart, one that you can relive and one that makes you so happy, you feel you are in that moment. Do not follow the brain chatter of worry or any type of negative emotion of what will happen in the future. We CAN change our future, it is our decision and we do have the control, but we have to believe and place positive feelings starting with one heart at a time, then each positive heart will connect and cause a positive chain reaction. Its all in your heart. Mena C

By Rachel, Friday, October 10, 2008 12:15:59 PM
To Margaret M cole williams
I'm in Northeast Mississippi will I be able to see it? That is my son Hunter's birthday he will be 5. That is very interesting.
Rachel Dianne Pannell

By Beverly, Friday, October 10, 2008 12:10:12 PM
LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. LOVE EVERY MOMENT. LOVE EACH OTHER. LOVE OUR PLANET AND FELLOW MAN.

By Margaret M, Friday, October 10, 2008 10:49:46 AM
I am Margaret M cole williams,{ Maggie//Love }
I have just read all of this and I agree %100, with Sylvia...
This is not the end as endings go, but a transformation from the Old into the New..
Everything is being made ready for the Grand Finally..
Our reign of a Thousand years with the Divine...The Golden Age..
That's why the Space ship will appear in our skies over Alabama on
the 14th of Oct. 2008, to let us know they are real and here to help..
a lot of things are begining to happen,This government will be replaced
and a temperarily government will take over to get our country back to it's original state,It's all happening " RIGHT NOW" My deepest appreciation to Sylivsa and all her Staff of helpers, and above al her Guides.. I LOVE YOU ALL, Maggie//LOVE, I am looking forward to the 16th
Of October, to talk with Sylvia!!!
My Question.. Sylvia did you know the Galactic Federatyion of Light, Space ship will make its appresence known on Tuesday the 14th of Oct.2008 over Alabama!!!Thanks...